Winter Wanders with the Family
The rain’s beating down and the school run’s almost closed. It’s time to reconnect. Beyond the bounds of study and work there’s a place where city kids can be country kids. A place where you’ll get back down to earth, meet real people, and escape the stresses of everyday life. When the weather moves in and summer gold turns cold, finding the time and space to breathe is a tonic for the soul. Here’s how to do Yorke Peninsula across the seasons.
STAY AND PLAY AT PORT BROUGHTON
When it comes to taking the family away for a well-earned break, Port Broughton is a slice of beachside bliss like no other. A virtual mecca for kids and their crew (don’t forget the dog!), this town is a year-round playground that turns the tide on those city stresses before you can say ‘drop the crab nets’.
A family magnet for generations, you’ll find a menagerie of things to keep the kids entertained, with the legendary jetty (circa 1876) being at right at the heart of it. Taking the esky for a stroll before dangling a line for dinner is almost a rite-of-passage, and with scores of blue swimmer crabs just waiting to be hauled there’s hours of entertainment to be had. With country-baked goodness within easy strike at the Port Broughton Bakery, scoffing a pastry or pie as the fish start to bite is also one of life’s simplest pleasures.
Of course, where there’s sugar there’s ‘the sillies’, and when the kids get ants in their pants, you’ll also find the All-Abilities Playground in prime position on the foreshore, along with barbecues, a skatepark and half-basketball court for good measure.
PORT BROUGHTON TOURIST PARK
Sitting right in the thick of it all, Port Broughton Tourist Park is your perfect holiday hub, decked out with literally everything you could possibly dream of to keep the tribe entertained. With a wide range of accommodation (think: cabins, self-contained villas, powered camp and caravan sites), this place also delivers a treasure-trove of on-site activities.
If the kids aren’t already side-tracked by the 9-hole mini golf course and jumping pillow, they’ll soon find the bike and scooter pump track, a large solar-heated swimming pool (there’s one for toddlers too), ninja playground, pedal karts – and, for total die-hards, an epic Waterslide and Splash Park with tipping buckets, ground sprayers and more.
Naturally, you’ll need to keep your hungry horde well-fed and watered, and with pizza ovens ready to fire at the camp kitchen you’ll have endless slices of waterfront perfection whenever the mood strikes.
Over the school holidays, you’ll also find loads of extras to keep everyone busy, with their ever popular movie nights bookended by arts and crafts classes (mosaics, pot and rock painting, cookie decorating and more), rubber duck races and calorie-laden treats from the YP Donuts van.
COPPER COAST FOR KIDS
Just a stone’s throw away, you’ll find a trifecta of kid-friendly fun at the at the Copper Coast Visitor Centre in Kadina, starting with the 18-hole Putt Putt Golf Course right out the front. With a range of club sizes and super-fun holes to challenge everyone from young to old, unleashing your inner competitor over dips, humps, curves and giant obstacles will ensure everyone leaves as one very ‘Happy Gilmore’.
When the wild southerlies start to bite, the Indoor Play Centre offers sweet salvation, with two three-hour sessions for your little mites to run wild seven days a week. With a literal jungle of toys, tubes, climbing towers, slippery slides and ride-ons to occupy even the most ardent climber or adventure-seeker, it’s a one-stop wonderland, especially in winter.
Next door, The Farm Shed Heritage Museum is ripe for exploration, showcasing the rich heritage of our rural heartland. With as much to feed young minds as there is to ponder for parents, it’s a fascinating display of lovingly restored machines and curious contraptions that have forged the area’s reputation as South Australia’s ‘barley belt’. Weaving Kadina’s early history with the nearby Wallaroo Mines and the stories of the local pioneers (including women on farms) it’s an opportunity to unravel over 160 years of triumph and tribulation, with a wander through the old schoolroom and mine manager's residence an absolute must.
Oh, and parents… If you’re keen to refresh after the inevitable minigolf meltdowns, you’ll find the Hedonbar Brewing Company right next door, with a cosy fireplace, chilled vibes and a rotating range of seasonal ales and lagers all brewed on site. With local wine, gin and non-alcoholic drinks also ready to wet your whistle, this place is a also regular pit-stop for food trucks (spuds, pizzas, burgers Asian and more), plus a cool calendar of live music.
MEANDER AT MOONTA MINES
Of course, no visit to the Copper Coast is complete without a visit to the iconic Moonta Mines! With a World Heritage-listing imminent, this site is a bastion of local history that’s just itching to be unearthed.
Once the site of one of the richest copper mines in the country, a mining boom was once forged by thousands of Cornish immigrants who descended on the shores of Spencer Gulf, soon after the precious mineral’s discovery in 1859. What’s been left in their wake is an important chapter in Australia’s history, with this former wombat burrow (and once South Australia’s second largest town) now decorated with rustic relics of the boom times gone by.
Linking the sites, the Moonta Mines Tourist Railway weaves its way between the major sites, bringing history to life with a trusty guide, who’ll lead the way along on a narrow-gauge track lined with old reservoirs, sorting floors, tunnels and tailings to reveal a genuine window through time.
After hitting all the stops, it’d almost be sacrilege not to finish your ride on the local ‘time machine’ without giving in to those persistent sugar cravings with a sticky treat (or three) at the Moonta Mines Sweet Shop. It’s here that your little sweet tooths can load up on all sorts of gooey goodness, with old fashioned lollies ready to line their pockets from wall to wall.
FROLICS ON THE FAR
There’s nothing like a dose of fresh country air to cure those city kid conundrums, and Tarnasey Farm looms large on that dusty parental horizon. In fact, over the cooler months the lush pastures around here are an emerald green dream, making it the perfect patch for hands-on farm fun! In addition to having a wide range of accommodation options on site, its Little Farmer Tours will put a smile on every ‘wanna be’ country kid’s dial, getting them up close and personal with the resident sheep, chickens, ducks, alpacas, pigs (especially muddy old man Wilbur) and their beautiful big slobbery cows!
Suitable for all ages, watch your little mites join the daily feeding rounds and become a farmer for a while as they move from one enclosure to the next, collecting eggs, topping up buckets and bowls, and even hand feeding juicy carrots to the locals with grins from ear to ear!
ROLL LIKE A LOCAL
For something deliciously different, Copper Coast Chef’s sushi making classes are the perfect choice to get your kids in the kitchen, with local legend Geordie dishing up over 30 years’ experience in a fun-for-all lunch or dinner date.
Covering everything from rice preparation and cooking to fine-tuning your rolling and moulding technique, this is all about getting hands-on with fresh produce as you learn to expertly craft Temaki, Maki, Uramaki, Nigiri and Gunkan Maki, before feasting as a family!
Oh, and parents, if you’re keen to ‘sip and roll’ as you go, that’s all part of the fun too, with a glass of vino the perfect accompaniment to celebrate your spectacular sushi creations.
KIDS ON COUNTRY
If you’re keen for some genuine culture, taking a deep dive into the traditions, language and customs of the Nharangga dhura (Nharangga people) with Nharangga Aboriginal Cultural Tours is a one-of-a-kind history lesson, and a chance to delve back tens of thousands of years.
Joining local Nharangga Kokatha man Shane Warrior on a journey through the millennia, you’ll walk side-by-side on Country while unearthing the ancient stories and cultural items that connect the local community with the land. Intimate and authentic, there’s absolutely nothing rehearsed about this experience, and as Shane shares the accumulated knowledge of Elders past and present, you’ll find it’s more like ‘a yarn with a friend’ while moving through some of the most significant sites. After strolling through the ancient meeting place, kick back, relax and enjoy a true taste of Country with a native gourmet bush tucker lunch.
With a range of other tours operating from various locations across Yorke Peninsula, from Yarning Circles to Wadna Throwing, accessible experiences and more, immersing in traditional custodians’ wonders and wisdom is a genuine journey like no other.
RIDE THE HGH SEAS
There’s nothing like a splash of salt and a stiff southerly to ignite the senses, and the cool crew at Marion Bay Ocean Safari will have covered in any season. Traversing some of the most spectacular coastline around Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park, this two-hour epic is chock-full of wildlife and bird life, and if the kids aren’t already awestruck by soaring sea eagles, osprey and albatross, the resident dolphin pods are sure to be a hit.
Purring across the pristine waters of Pondalowie Bay aboard the 45-foot ‘Vixen’, you’ll swing by the rugged ramparts, dramatic cliffs and calm coves of this heavenly hotspot as seals frolic in the surf, and rays glide in the shallows. With a sizeable penguin population and an army of pelicans calling the place home, this tour will float any little nature lovers’ boat, making it a genuine jaw-dropper for the whole family.
DHILBA GUURANDA-INNES NATIONAL PARK
A jewel in Yorke Peninsula’s crown, the breathtaking Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park delivers some of Australia’s most stunning scenery, with a menagerie of wildlife also calling the place home. Untouched, untamed and unbelievable, this spectacular swathe of coastal wilderness on Yorke Peninsula’s Southern tip has been pulling road-trippers for generations, with its glistening white beaches and tortured seascapes a firm staple on the family holiday calendar.
Whether you’re in for the day or staying a while, this place is jam-packed with local treasures, from the historic ghost town of Inneston (where you can explore the ruins on foot) to the gnarled old shipwreck at Ethel Beach, 360 degree panoramas at West Cape Lookout and Gulawulgawi Ngunda Nhagu – Cape Spencer Lookout and many miles of sand, surf and walking trails in between.
Before entering, just remember to book your park permit or use the self-registration bay on arrival. The Visitor Information Centre is also the perfect spot to start your odyssey, with friendly staff always ready with maps and advice to make your visit unforgettable. It’s also a good opportunity to make use of the impressive amenities here, with limited access once you’re on the road.
With two-wheel drive access right throughout the park this one’s open to all vehicles, but just remember to tread lightly, stick to marked trails and take your rubbish with you. If you’re pitching or parking in one of the many ‘million-star’ campgrounds, you’ll also want to book your site to secure a permit early. Oh, and paw-parents, while the rest of the region is a dream for dogs, this is one spot you’ll need to keep your fur friends at home. Hit up these guys if you need a pooch-sitter for a bit.
EAT
No doubt about it, every hungry horde needs to eat! From fish and chips to kid-friendly cafes, beautiful barbecue spots and everywhere else in between, you’ll find something to float even the fussiest eater’s boat in any season, with a few places known to go the extra mile...
At the Port Broughton Bakery, you’ll find country flavour for all, with a decadent donut selection that’ll take your sweet tooths to tasty town. Oh, and Mum and Dad, when they’re done slurping hot chocolates there’s a caffeine fix for you too, with killer coffees ready to fuel your day’s adventures.
In Wallaroo, the Bond Store is a genuine go-to, with a fantastic variety of tapas dished up from the charcoal grill. Providing plenty of options for little ones to pick and choose as they go, thirsty parents will also find an incredible range of beers, gins and liqueurs, with tasting paddles on tap.
At Café Capellas in Moonta, the fenced, grassed outdoor dining area provides loads of entertainment for the kids, with ample indoor room under the pressed tin roof. These guys also have some fantastic kids’ menu options that’ll fill your brood’s bellies without killing the family budget.
Down south, Stansbury’s award-winning Dalrymple Hotel and the legendary Marion Bay Tavern are both known for dishing up kid-friendly cuisine, with anything from wood-oven pizzas and burgers to small plates and sides that’ll have their tummies full and their parents at peace.
For more information on where to feed the whole family, head straight to our Eat and Drink page.
STAY
From coast to country, you’ll be spoiled for choice for places to stay, with Tarnasey Farm ready to feather any budding farm family’s nest. Every bit the quintessential rural retreat, you’ll find a range of options to suit any style or budget, with seven six-person cabins that are all decked out with kids at the core. Not only that, but you’ll also score one of their awesome Little Farmer Tours when booking!
Beyond the farm, you’ll also find loads more family-friendly, options right around the region, with a wide range of caravan parks, beach shacks, Airbnb’s, bush camps and more to keep the whole tribe happy.
For more information on where to go with your family in-tow, browse our full range of accommodation options here, and enjoy the joys of winter on Yorke Peninsula.